GUWAHATI: North East Frontier Railway (NFR) has tabled a proposal before the Railway Board for upgrading safety infrastructure at an estimated cost of Rs 325 crore.

The proposal, for the year 2018-19, comprises 28 safety works including the improvement of running rooms in 30 stations for an estimated cost of Rs 71 crore and training centres at 13 stations at a cost of Rs 94 crore.

The proposal also suggests extensions of platforms at 18 stations for a cost of Rs 45 crore and foot overbridges at 30 stations for Rs 105 crore. There is also a Rs 10 crore-plan to replace, among other equipments, the LED signals and batteries. “Our focus on safety has so far yielded positive results. The number of derailments came down from four to one last year. No accidents at level crossings or cases of fire hazards were reported,” NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said.

He also pointed out that many steps have been taken in landslide-prone areas, like the Lumding-Badarpur hill section, to prevent derailments. “Along with regular patrolling, trackmen have been equipped with walkie-talkies for communicating with station-masters. Also gadgets like inclinometers and piezometers have been provided to study soil behaviour,” Sharma added. Sharma said all loco pilots are trained in on-run application of emergency brakes to avoid derailment due to drivers overshooting signals. The training is taking place with the help of simulators at Siliguri diesel shed.